back of one's hand — meaning & examples

Meanings:

• 1.

  Global Englishinformal
  • Used in the expression 'to know something like the back of one's hand' to indicate intimate familiarity with, or thorough knowledge of, a place, subject, or person.

  Examples

  Beta

  • Living here for decades, I know this neighborhood like the back of my hand.

    Viviendo aquí por décadas, conozco este vecindario como la palma de mi mano.

  • She knows the city like the back of her hand, so she never gets lost on our trips.

    Ella conoce la ciudad como la palma de su mano, así que nunca se pierde en nuestros viajes.

  • John studied the company's procedures so thoroughly he knows them like the back of his hand.

    John estudió los procedimientos de la empresa tan a fondo que los conoce como la palma de su mano.

• 2.

  Global Englishneutral
  • The dorsal surface of the hand, sometimes referenced when describing a blow delivered with the back of the hand as an expression of contempt or dismissal.

  Examples

  Beta

  • He slapped him with the back of his hand as a sign of disrespect during the argument.

    Le dio una bofetada con el dorso de la mano como señal de desprecio durante la discusión.

  • The child accidentally hit the table with the back of his hand while reaching for a toy.

    El niño golpeó accidentalmente la mesa con el dorso de la mano mientras alcanzaba un juguete.

  • She brushed the dust off the book with the back of her hand before opening it.

    Ella quitó el polvo del libro con el dorso de la mano antes de abrirlo.

  • The boxer blocked the punch by turning his hand so the back of his hand took the impact.

    El boxeador bloqueó el golpe girando la mano para que el dorso de la mano absorbiera el impacto.